Strike ballot looms in tug dispute

The workers are based at Seal Sands on Teesside

Tees dock workers could be balloted for strike action in a dispute over pay.

The tug workers at Teesport and Seal Sands are unhappy at an offer of 3% from their Danish employers.

Members of the Transport and General Worker's Union have applied to their executive for a strike action sanction.

This could mean members are balloted over industrial action in the next two weeks.

Manning levels

The dockers have asked their employers, Svitzer, for the 3% to be extended to bonuses and remuneration.

Workers are also unhappy about the use of Danish employees on Teesside, and at plans to reduce manning levels on boats from four to three.

They say the staffing problems were highlighted by a crash last weekend when an empty tanker collided with a jetty at Seal Sands.

The Finnish-registered Palve collided with a jetty at the Conoco Phillips site at Seal Sands, near Middlesbrough.